Viktar Ivashkevich: «The consensus with the authorities can be achieved» :: Charter'97 :: News

The round table “European neighborhood policy and Belarus” was held September 15 in the Belarusian PEN-center. Experts in Belarus’ relations with the European Union, political analysts Andrei Fiodarau and Andrei Yagorau presented their reports. Vice Chairperson of the BNF Party, head of the organizing committee of the European March Viktar Ivashkevich, members of the BNF Party Soim Andrus Sarotnik and Yury Chavusau took part in the discussion.

Andrei Fiodarau’s report was focused on the dynamics of Belarus-EU relations development since August 1992. He also dwelled on Valery Varanetski’s report at the conference held in Brussels. According to Andrei Fiodarau, the authorities are concerned with the fact that Belarus can lose the transit state status for Europe (pipelines are being routed around Belarus); nevertheless the 12 obligations announced by the EU haven’t been met yet.

Andrei Yagorau announced the results of the survey held among 30 Belarusians that have experience in working with European programs and projects.

According to head of the organizing committee of the European March Viktar Ivashkevich, the Belarusian authorities will be obliged to communicate with the EU. “After Belarus and the EU got mutual frontiers, the European impact has become unavoidable, - Viktar Ivashkevich said during the discussion. - The issue will be solved when the elites of the authorities and the opposition achieve consensus. In my view, the consensus can be found before the 12 obligations announced last year are met.”